Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022

Swissbob

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Would love that – but didn't want to add the PTS lead-time and complexity to the order. Or the price. However, since then I've learned that PTS car's are being painted all the time now and it does not add as much lead-time to car's as it did even a year ago.

Don't tempt me!
You have to do it!!!
 
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tigerbalm

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Taycan Factory Tour: Paint Shop

The two buses take the group the short distance – less than a kilometre – to the entrance to the Paint Shop. The building looks similar to the assembly building we were in earlier – they both look like they were constructed at the same time with similar designs.

We get out – some of the group take a quick comfort break – and we all head up in an elevator to the second floor.

Unlike the Assembly Line building – there is a very distinct smell of paints/solvents here.

Here we stand in a corridor – and can see a good view over the entire site. Across some public train tracks – we can see the building where both the Taycan (and Audi eTron GT) electric motors and V8 engines are manufactured and assembled. The V8 engines made here are sent to Leipzig (Panamera) and Bratislava (Cayenne).

Additionally from this year – the Taycan Paint Shop also paints 20% of all 911's and 718's manufactured. This is why we suspect that PTS has now become more "available". The Taycan Paint Shop technology is capable of handling a lot more paint colours and all PTS 911/718's are painted here, alongside all Taycan's.

Also we can see a small-ish building with six large chimneys – this is an electricity and heat generating station for use by the entire Porsche site. Although the complex has a public grid connection – most of the energy consumed is generated by Porsche themselves from this station. And yes, it uses Gas – and yes this is a problem for Porsche and Germany after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions imposed by the EU.

We go into a nearby room named the "Presentation Room". This is a darkened multi-media equipped room that helps demonstrate the painting process of the Taycan.

There is a full painted Taycan saloon body in the room that you can interact with. It is good for showing what the interior body looks like with nothing installed. The guide activates various multi-media presentations that describe the various metal composition of the Taycan – and the layers and processes that the metal goes through on its way to being painted.

We learn that the total thickness of all the layers – from metal corrosion protection – through to the paint and onto the clear coat – is thinner in total than a human hair. And even with that – due to the surface area of a Taycan – the layers add many kilograms to the overall weight of the car – nearly 30 kg in total.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 Screenshot 2022-09-10 at 11.44.03


At the various stands here – we can explore what the body metal feels like after each process – from rough unfinished aluminium up to highly treated final clear coat.

We get to run our hands through the various robot attachments – including the emu feathers.

It takes 12 hours to fully process a Taycan body ready to be sent along the 911 meter long bridge conveyer belt – to the assembly building we toured earlier. This is compared to 8.5 hours to assemble a Taycan body ready for shipping to a customer – at least during good times when no supply chain issues.

Due to the longer painting time – the paint shop runs on three staff shifts – compared to two shifts for assembly.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 Screenshot 2022-09-10 at 11.43.49


Eventually after about 20 minutes of various talks, videos and hands-on experiences – we stand at a wall within the room that is made from opaque perplex. Then with a press of a button – the guide makes the wall panel transparent – this looks like similar tech to the Variable Roof option on recent Taycan's – and we can see a car being painted by robots on the line within the building.

It is only now it becomes obvious to us that we're not going to be walking through the paint shop line like we did on assembly.

We watch the robots do their thing for a while as cars move slowly along the line – and then the wall is made opaque again.

The guide did mention that sometimes they can't show the live process – as they are testing either new colours or new car's that are not announced yet. The guide told a story of a colleague that accidentally made the wall transparent and there stood – a yet unannounced – Taycan Cross Turismo being painted – with the guide quickly making the wall opaque again before trying to talk over what the tour had just seen!

We then took the elevator back down to the waiting buses and drove back to the entrance of Porsche Museum – handing back the useless – and unnecessary – portable headphones.

The tour was over and lasted just under two hours in total.
 
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tigerbalm

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Day 16: Luxembourg City (Luxembourg) -> Bruges (Belgium)

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 Screenshot 2022-09-10 at 18.38.36


If you remember, we were hoping to get a (originally unplanned) destination charge at our hotel in Luxembourg overnight. On having the valet bring the car up to us – it became apparent that had not happened.

The issue is that the chargers the hotel quotes on their website are actually public chargers that are available in the public car park that the hotel uses for valet parking. In this case – the chargers we block/in-use and so an overnight charge wasn't possible.

If the hotel controls the chargers then valet's are usually able to manger them to get everyone charged – not the case at this location.

We had even left them a hint that our car can take their fasted quoted charger.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52347972653_3345fe7bfc_o


We were at 24% charge so we fell to our backup – which was Porsche Centre Lëtzebuerg – that was only around 6km away from us. The PCM directed us to the chargers and the Porsche Charging Service RFID card got us going immediately.

The car didn't have much time to prepare the battery – so while charging rate started at 238 kW – it soon fell to just under 200 kW for most of the charge.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52348045054_ca38bbb842_o


We really like the industrial design language of the Porsche Chargers.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52347976193_5c5079c55a_o


Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52348045144_750001a997_o


As there is a power + time aspect to the cost of using these chargers – we stop the charge at just the PCM recommended amount to reach our next IONITY with 10% battery.

We cross the border into Belgium with frequent heavy rain showers and cloudy skies.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52348048559_92fdb8b7e7_o


But sometimes things clear up.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52347733071_109e409904_o


We hit heavy traffic approaching the ring road around Brussels – that lasts nearly an hour.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52348053209_19a2c164b8_o


And get our only – and planned/anticipated for – range warning on this road-trip – when we were around 18km away from our IONITY stop.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52348166370_52a5b76151_o


Charging at IONITY Wetteren Noord.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52347743176_8a0d46108f_o


Two weeks ago we charged here at the other side of the road beside a Audi e-tron GT – in much better weather.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52315102748_3a1df498ac_o


We continue towards Bruges – our overnight stop – driving through the gates into the old town.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52347994763_b93706a744_o


Onto the cobble-stone streets.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52347996398_afa6c5ce3d_o


Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52347747756_1d2455f497_o


Quickly reaching our hotel.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52347997728_0e189a4bc9_o


This being an old building – we wind ourselves down into the car-park. That thankfully has a traffic light system – meaning you won't meet a car on the slope.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52348177480_b7dd5ee8bc_o


And find a few empty spots – leaving us some room to get back in again.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52348001648_7c6e904fb2_o


There are destination chargers here.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52348072264_1b60cef3ea_o


But the "rules" associated with them – €40 deposit – get a key from reception to open a box – and €30 cost to charge regardless of energy used – puts us off. Especially as we're at our planned 60% battery level.

An IONITY top-up at the chunnel tomorrow will be better value and less hassle. We've no issue with paying for destination charges – but this one is the wrong side of messy (we'd tap a RFID card) and costly.

If we'd come in here on fumes – something we'd never do for a destination charge as you might not get one – then maybe.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52348188240_bfa3a5f96e_o


Now to enjoy Bruges – our third time here – and our last night on mainland Europe on this road-trip.

The days charging stats:

LocationStart SOC %End SOC %kWh addedCostDurationAmbient TempBattery TempCharger TypeNetwork
Porsche Centre Luxembourg24%74%49.86€21.590h 23m16.022DC 350 kWPorsche Charging Service
Wetteren Noord11%71%50.2€0 (not billed yet)0h 15m19.538DC 350 kWIONITY

Today we did 268 km over 4:19 hours, with an average speed of 63 km/h, consuming 21.8 kWh/100km.
 


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tigerbalm

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MrB

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Thanks for the useful info too. I never do Flexiplus, so I'm not familiar with the boarding process. That's a useful insight though if I ever do it.

Yeah, because the structure of the double-deck carriages is load-bearing (the side walls have to support the upper deck and up to five vehicles also), they have to be extra strong, and therefore extra thick. The "channel" you drive down is quite narrow indeed, and it also has the metal lips just waiting to scrape your alloys. Not only that, they're much more awkward to drive into (both the lower and upper deck). Anything of 5 Series size or above, and you'll be looking at damaged rims. No way would I drive a Taycan into there.

I'm following this thread every day. Let us know how you get on at Calais.
Absolutely, I trashed the rims on my SL500 a few years back on the normal carriages. Never again!
 

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Just boarded.

All good.

865B9678-79E0-40BE-AE1E-38BC145494A7.jpeg


F7ED2F17-9E64-4784-8FD5-676446CEBC9A.jpeg


D3FDBCC3-AD4B-4BB2-839C-D41E83738476.jpeg

Great stuff! 👌

I'll be doing the same this coming Thursday in my new C-Class, which I could probably drive on to the double-deck carriage without scratching the rims, but I don't want that stress to be honest.
 

Bigben

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Fantastic photos to demonstrate how narrow the regular double-deck carriages are on the Eurotunnel trains. Thanks for posting @Bigben

That appears to be an E70 X5, which is 1,933 mm wide. The Taycan is actually wider than that at 1,966 mm, so you would have even less room in a Taycan.
Wow - the E70 was already feeling quite wide so will see how the CT will do in the tiny towns and single country lanes around here (if it arrives before we start using flying cars…)
I was then always selecting “high car >1.85m” and got into the habit of putting my cars (GL, Q7, RR Vogue..) in raised mode before going to the guy at the booth who gives you your lane number to make sure he wouldn’t redirect me to a double decker 😅
Just boarded.

All good.

865B9678-79E0-40BE-AE1E-38BC145494A7.jpeg


F7ED2F17-9E64-4784-8FD5-676446CEBC9A.jpeg


D3FDBCC3-AD4B-4BB2-839C-D41E83738476.jpeg
Wait until one of those bikes falls off on your hood 👀
I’m always reluctant to get super close to each others’ bumpers but the train agents usually insist (with loads of impatient hand gestures too if they’re French)
Great stuff! 👌

I'll be doing the same this coming Thursday in my new C-Class, which I could probably drive on to the double-deck carriage without scratching the rims, but I don't want that stress to be honest.
Hopefully if a quiet time to cross you’ll be fine but I’ve seen in busy periods people with high car hangers being redirected towards double decks upon arrival!
I’ve always feared that one day Eurotunnel would start charging more for high cars bookings but looks like they’re OK to keep losing money for now 🤞🏻

Wishing you a smooth crossing of this island on the way to yours!
 
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tigerbalm

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Day 17: Bruges (Belgium) -> Stratford-upon-Avon (UK)

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 Screenshot 2022-09-12 at 09.12.12


We leave our hotel just after 09:00 – with the PCM Navigation helping us to navigate the narrow, winding and almost all one-way streets of Bruges.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52350991557_0ed306fde4_o


Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52351937501_8421a76ff6_o


Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352261679_6c23f492e0_o


Until reaching the larger E40 towards Calais.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52351939476_78a778f4ef_o


Crossing the border back into France – with bright blue skies – a big difference compared to the previous two days.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352369030_898ca5f991_o


No shortage of electric grid infrastructure in this part of Normandy.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52351943686_d19c97874b_o


Driving along the security fence that surrounds the Channel Tunnel facility around these parts.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352372840_46f8bd69bc_o


Circulating a roundabout that contains part of the tunnel boring machine that dug the Chunnel.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352374535_6204d79588_o


Stopping at IONITY Coquelles for a battery top-up.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352273204_09afc96318_o


Before heading into the Chunnel terminal and parking up at the Flexiplus Lounge.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352195428_054ac655f1_o


Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352379635_e65782740c_o


Where there are Tesla chargers at the lounge – that are available for all car's to use. If we had planned this better – we would have made these our first ever Tesla supercharger attempt instead of going to IONITY. Next time!

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352277304_a1391e5514_o


And using the dedicated Flexiplus lane – we drive towards our train – with zero waiting.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352013786_dfc216389d_o


Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352382740_7040115e44_o


Slight queue on the ramp down.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352383790_f6b3c79dfa_o


And drive on – remembering to set "Transport Mode" on our Porsche Vehicle Tracking Service (PVTS+).

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52351013112_cbf0778099_o


Driving through the carriages – making sure we pick the double-decker based on the advice from many on this forum.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352202783_8e9fa6f600_o


As we're the last car in our carriage – our wheels are chocked to protect the closed doors behind us.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52351959651_04cb51f271_o


And after 25 min we leave the train in the UK. Drive on the left. DRIVE ON THE LEFT!

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352396075_d300ba5c6d_o


And head straight onto the M20 towards London.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52351968446_eba38ace0e_o


Very heavy traffic at the Dartford Tunnel under the Thames. Not helped by a broken down car in the middle of it!

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352296879_b533139050_o


We decide rather than go to another IONITY – we'll do a slight detour and check out "Gridserve – The Electric Forecourt" at Braintree.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52351037697_98dafc3faf_o


With plenty of parking beside each charger.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352410980_f19fbea661_o


And a comfortable waiting area – alongside high-quality and useful retail outlets.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352308734_c9ab45dbaa_o


You can even peddle in some watts to the grid yourself.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52351042717_f3037ea3e7_o


Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352310769_1db1cc70ed_o


It was good to see air & water facilities here too. All too often EV charging facilities forget that they still are cars and need tyres pumped.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52351988346_fd1854b67d_o


Soon we were full and it was time to go – after experiencing what we hope are facilities that will become more "the norm" in the future.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352418710_25f63c04bc_o


After another 150km – stopping at Rugby Services for a quick comfort break.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352235428_8c0ccd1e6a_o


Where the same Gridserve company run a large bank – of very busy – chargers.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52351992561_7930da489a_o


Before eventually arriving at our hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon – probably best known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

Porsche Taycan Taycan to the Alps 18-day road trip 2022 52352425430_76de3d25ea_o


The days charging stats:

LocationStart SOC %End SOC %kWh addedCostDurationAmbient TempBattery TempCharger TypeNetwork
IONITY Coquelles27%74%44.06€14.540h 14m21.045DC 350 kWPorsche Charging Service
Gridserve Braintreex39%99%50.00€25.910h 42m22.032DC 350 kWGridserve

Today we did 497 km over 8:45 hours, with an average speed of 58 km/h, consuming 20.5 kWh/100km.
 
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ciaranob

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Love the Gridserve - is this a one off ahead of a more national setup - EA have a few similar concepts built in the US although not here in Texas as yet. Looks excellent.
 

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Wow - Ionity, 15€, 15min for 44kWh vs. Grid serve 25€ in 40min+ for similar charge! Is it because you consciously waited for longer to get from 80% to 99%?

I think this is where a 350mi range is handy - truth is, on long distance, you oscillate between 20-80% SOC, meaning you’re waiving 40% of capacity or 140mi, making the useable range closer to 200mi…
Sponsored

 
 




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